Lighten Up

The Alabama Public Service Commission has approved Alabama Power Co.'s request to raise rates by about 1% a year through 2013 in order to comply with federal environmental regulations. The increase was approved over the objections of Commission member George Wallace, Jr., who said, "These costs are falling totally on the average working people of Alabama. This company should ante up. I frankly think this is wrong. We could find a way to make it more equitable and fair." Alabama Power says that the rate increases should cost the average residential user about a dollar a month.